Professional Q&A: Matt Giles

I tracked down Matt Giles for this month’s professional Q&A. Matt is the account executive for CoStar Group, serving clients who use CoStar and LoopNet services.

Q: Do you live in Edmond, work in Edmond, or both?

A: My wife Erika and I moved to Edmond with our three children Joy (4 years old), Hope & Sam (Twins, 2.5 years old) in December 2019. I work in and outside of Edmond with commercial real estate professionals, investors/developers, financial institutions, and commercial service businesses across the state of Oklahoma. I have several clients in the city of Edmond who use CoStar & LoopNet in their business.

Q: Where did you grow up and go to school?

A: I have lived in Oklahoma my whole life and am an “Okie” through and through. I grew up in Midwest City, was homeschooled, and graduated with a high school class of 30+ homeschool students. My grandfather, Richard Giles, was the assistant fire chief at the Stillwater Fire Department and the director of campus safety for OSU, where he pioneered the Life Safety Program. I followed in his footsteps, and shortly after graduating high school, I went into the life safety industry and gained certifications in pre-engineered and engineered fire suppression systems, fire alarm, security, video surveillance, and access control. I moved into life safety system design & sales where I worked with architects, engineers, contractors, and building owners to design and install various life safety & electronic systems.

Q: How did you get involved with your current organization?

A: I had not yet come across CoStar Group and was only familiar with their online marketplace LoopNet. A friend introduced me to the regional director for Oklahoma (who I work with now), and he shared about the history of CoStar Group and how they have taken the best of world-class research, technology, and online marketplaces to build the most comprehensive commercial real estate database in the world that provides vital information for commercial real estate professionals.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: While most of my work involves data and analytics for commercial properties, I love how commercial real estate is all about relationships. There are real people behind how cities are developed, and spaces create opportunities for businesses to thrive. I love getting to work alongside pioneers who are creating new opportunities by transforming places where people live and work.

Q: What’s something you’re passionate about in your personal life?

A: I’m a very active person and enjoy rock climbing, hiking, strength training, playing volleyball, sailing, running at UCO, and cycling around Edmond/OKC. I am also an avid reader and consider myself a student of success and achievement literature, something that was instilled in me by my dad. My wife and I like to sneak out to a movie when we are not going to the pool, park, or play gym with our three kids.

Q: What do you like about Edmond?

A: I love the mix of people and incomes I’ve found while living here. Edmond is a much more diverse place than I first thought. While at local parks like Hafer Park, I have met people from Turkey and Venezuela who work and live in Edmond. My wife teaches at a local preschool, and we’ve gotten to know many people from different backgrounds while living here.

Q: What is your number one tip for other professionals, either for work or life in general?

A: Start. Throughout my career, I’ve learned a new skill much faster when I try more things. Waiting until you “have it all figured out” is a losing strategy. The author and speaker Brain Tracy says, “Get 80% ready, and then launch.” I think this is good advice. Have a plan, but don’t wait for it to be perfect to take action; your plans will change as you begin to take more steps forward toward your goals. One of my favorite quotes is, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best is today.”